Day 6: Del Potro v Federer Tennis: World Tour Finals

Murray out foxed him and he has the early break. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is

reaching the point of no return. Second serve is good, big forehand

return from Tsonga is long, Murray celebrates. He is into the cellar

book -- semi-finals irrespective of what happens from here. Exhibition

stuff from Andy Murray. A forehand passing shot winner and the speed

of Murray, he was like a blur. An ace out wide to finish it in

perfect style. He knocks Tsonga over in the tie-break. The top

three players in the world are through to the semi-finals, Novak

Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Who will join them? The

next highest rate -- ranked player, David for rare, he plays later this

evening, or this man, Juan Martin Del Potro, who this afternoon plays

Roger Federer. Good afternoon. More permutations to go through, but we

will do that later. Federer against Del Potro it is the match this

afternoon. Let's look back to last night. Murray was pretty impressive.

He only needed one set, but he won two. It is a knotty always the

easiest scenario where there's a situation where you can just win

one set and go through. He wanted to be clear in his mind that he

wanted to put in a good performance and win the match. His start was

first class, to get that first set under his belt 6-2, he knew that he

was into the semis. A good effort to finish it in two set. We got a

nice insight into his relationship with Ivan Lendl. He said after the

match that I've and had said I don't want you to go out thinking

you only have to win one set. I don't think Andy absolutely knew

that beforehand. It was job done yesterday. Tsonga looked like this

was a tournament too far. Murray did ask the umpire at the end of

the first set, and my through? He just wanted to make sure he had

done enough. 4-2 up in the second, Tsonga got a break back, but an

immensely strong tie-break. Very much so. Again somebody like Tsonga,

there will always be an unpredictability. He is a very

dangerous player, he was in the final of this event last year, he

has beaten all of the top players. He showed some fortitude to break-

back and get into the tie-break. It was a very good performance to

finish it in straight sets from Murray. We have always talked up

the Murray backhand along with Novak Djokovic, but the forehands,

some tremendous winners. When he is positive on the ball, we were

calling for this three or four calling for this three or four

years ago, can you step up into the court and make it happen? You can't

just soak up the players -- pressure begins the big players.

You look at his forehand side and the aggression now, it is so

impressive. He can turn defence into attack. He that really is

taking the ball right about of the middle of the racket. There's one

coming up here when he's going backwards and he hits a winner.

look at the technique on his forehand. But I don't think for

four hand technique has changed, but it is a mindset. Lendl has had

an impact, making him more offensive and proactive. Now he is

prepared to take on those shots and make his opponent to the running.

He is such a good athlete, he defence so well, but he is better

when he is dictating. He has always had such a good two handed backhand,

but now his mind set has changed on his forehand, he is prepared to

take the ball on. The more he does that, the more comfortable he will

be. He is a big-time player now. Last year he was not 100%. At

Queen's he lost to Nicolas Mahut and then went to the Wimbledon

final and won the Olympics. He lost to a big Polish guy last week in

Paris and there were some suggestions that he is not

concentrating well enough. He is up for the big events the whole time.

He is such a big-time player. He knows how to get the job done. That

forehand is as good as yours! you is so much! You had a proper

forehand. Nothing much else to back it up! We talk about the forehand

and backhand in the men's, and a lot of time before we used to say

is that second serve as big a weapon as it should be and it is

now. That package has really improved. There were times he was

trying to get his percentage up, but he was taking a lot of pace off

the serve and then he was trying to hit big, flat serves and his

percentages went down. The first serve is a huge weapon, he is

serving many more aces, he gets more free points. It also sets him

up for the one-two punch. The second serve, it is not such an

issue. It is a solid second serve, I would not say it is a great

weapon. But it is not as if today's players are chipping and charging

and looking good big date. It is an area that has probably a request in

the game. People used to be serving and volleying on their second

serves and it had to be better. Against Djokovic, that would be

more of an issue. He looks to be offences on the second serve so you

can't put it into the middle of the box at 75 mph. Murray has more

variation. He does not serve double faults and he can move it around

the box. It is as solid shot for him. Murray is through to the semi-

finals, he does not know who he will play because he will play the

person who finishes as a winner of the group today, Group B. Although

everyone thinks it will surely be Federer, these permutations... Only

seven today! Yesterday in Group H there were a lot, but today only

seven. It is a bit like the match with Murray yesterday again Tsonga.

Federer just needs one set to go through. If he wins that one set,

he might still come second in his group. Del Potro goes into this

match with a very clear game plan. He understands what he has to do,

he has to win. Is there one permutation... We if he wins in two,

he wins the group, if he wins in three, he goes through second. If

he wins, Del Potro, he is guaranteed to be in the semi-final.

If he loses, there's still a chance if tapped - Tipsarevic can beat

Ferrer. He has been struggling, he has not been 100%, he caught a

virus in Paris. I think Tipsarevic will have his work cut out. From

Federer's point of view, he is through to the semi-finals, but it

is very important that he maintains his momentum. If he put in a flat

performance and didn't play his best, I sometimes think it would be

difficult for him to respond again. I expect him to look to dominate

this group and win three matches. It was only a couple of weeks ago

that they played in the final in Switzerland and Del Potro won. I

Switzerland and Del Potro won. I think Federer will be keen to put

the record straight. Talking of that win in Basel, he's had an

amazing 2012, Del Potro, his most amazing 2012, Del Potro, his most

successful season to date. He has successful season to date. He has

won 64 matches. Let's hear what he has to say about his year. I think

the year has been good for me. I'm in the top 10, I'm here for my

third time in my career. That is a big success at after my injury. I'm

doing well, I'm getting closer to the first position and that is

important. How is your wrist? feeling good, I'm healthy, that is

the most important thing. We like the emotion we see when you play

and we remember that from the Olympics. Do you like playing in

London? Yes. This will be my third time playing in London. Some of my

big memories in my life are from the bronze medal in the Olympics.

The crowd is amazing for me here. I hope to have many fans cheering for

me. We also saw you'd beating Federer this year and beating him

in his home town. There was a big thing for me this year after a

tough here, to go to Switzerland and beat him. It was amazing for me.

How key is that win two weeks ago? I think it was very important for

him. At the beginning of the year, it seemed like everywhere Del Potro

turned up, he lost to Roger Federer. It is the easiest thing in the

world to lose to Federer every week Cup, but this is important. He

almost beat him at Wimbledon. A very long match. 19-17 in the third

set. They have a proper rivalry. The US Open final in 2009. Very

important that he got the victory, although Federer looked only half

engaged in that final. He was very weary and he pulled out of Paris to

make sure he was fit for here. If make sure he was fit for here. If

we look at the head to head, it is we look at the head to head, it is

very much in favour of Federer. This year, they've met seven times

and Federer has won six of them. They have all been real battles.

They have. This is the challenge of playing Federer. We watched David

for rare the other day and he has lost 14 times in a row. -- David

Federer. It will to adapt -- he will take enormous confidence from

that final in Switzerland two weeks that final in Switzerland two weeks

ago. Very similar conditions and the same surface. His style of play

is not one Federer enjoys. Del Potro hits the ball very flat and

he has a big wingspan. He doesn't give Federer the time to hit all of

his shots and dictate the play for way he likes to. It is one of these

matches where both players will be looking to get the first strike in

the rally, to get the other Dyke -- Guy it on the defensive. He has a

history here as well. In 2009, he beat Federer and that was when the

calculators came out and Murray missed out. Nobody could announce

it for about 45 minutes. Everybody was going potty trying to work out

who had gone through. Del Potro represents a real difficulty for

Federer, whose defensive skills and his other athletic ability, they

are tested when he plays Del Potro. The Argentine pushes him. You can't

ever get on his serve. It is not a massive serve, Del Potro, but

because it comes down from six foot six, it has a good variation. He

just stretches Federer and that is quite interesting. Federer won his

opening two matches and he has looked majestic here. Particularly

in his first match. He just makes it look so easy. That right. He

stamped his authority on this match. You have to remember he is on a 12

match winning streak at this event, he has won the last two years. That

adds to the fact that he will be keen to maintain his form. Against

Del Potro, he will look to use his variation, mix things up and make

things difficult for Del Potro. has looked majestic on top of --

on-court, articulate off it. He was asked if there was anything he was

not good at. This is what he said. I can't cook! Many things I can't

do. I can't skate, I would love to do that. Many things for me to look

forward to a one-day that I can either improve or learn from

scratch. I am far from perfect! is not perfect! Dancing on ice!

Must the chef! Or sorts of solutions on reality TV for him. No

good at eating praying mantis, into the jungle! He gives back on the

tour, his press conferences are often worth listening to. Of they

are. He always has so much time to put back into the game. He probably

does his press conferences in four different languages. It is his

demeanour, because he is so relaxed, that helps him. That is another

element that will add to his longevity. Nothing much stress is

him out. He enjoys what he does and if he can stay healthy and injury-

free, he can play for a few years yet. Off we often say, not writing

him off, but wondering whether the New Guard are taking over and

Federer thinks, I'll show you and he comes back again. He seems to

make a habit go at this time of year, almost like he wants to come

out... He has won this six times. It's six times across three

different venues. We could make a list of all the records. You have

to laugh what you're doing. He must love what he's doing. Why would it

be difficult to be in an arena like this, to be celebrated, to be

rewarded so richly? When you've done something for as long as he

has, it is easy to fall out of love with the game, but he clearly still

enjoys it. While he still enjoys it, we have a chance to witness one of

the greatest ever sports people we have ever seen. He is not

everybody's favourite, some people don't think he is humble enough,

perhaps he has disrespected Andy Murray, people get cross with that,

but ultimately he is unbelievable at what he does. The Wimbledon

title this year was so important because it had been two-and-a-half

years since he had won as Slam and I think he thought he was losing

his grip. In some respects, this is the easy bit. To come out and

perform at this stage, it is the hours on the practise court and

doing Ballard days and stretching. That is not employ it -- enjoyable.

But he is still prepared to have that 100% commitment so that when

he comes out here, he is ready to compete. Kiefer twins are three

years old. Stay out here! There's plenty of time to get home later.

Apparently when they travel, they travel with twenty-one bags of

stuff. They get some help as well. It was a lovely moment at Wimbledon.

That title he wanted to win and it was lovely that after this point

when his wife got the twins so they could see Daddy receiving the

trophy. They will not even remember. What a moment. And for roof was

closed as well, it made a big difference. Absolutely. They will

not remember, they are only three. He has to play for another couple

of years so they remember him as a tennis player and not just dad. I

had forgotten about the roof. Pay it happened at the beginning of the

second set when Murray were as very much in control. Both on an indoor

court, he is just in a different class and that is what made the

difference in London over the past couple of years. A huge

disappointment for Murray, we remember what happened with him and

the tears he showed. Off hopefully they will get a lot of pictures and

they will remember they were there. The final of all four Grand Slams

in three separate years. It is a remarkable record. You can only

salute his record of achievement. McEnroe always says, and I agree,

that you don't lose your shots or even if it is a quarter of a step

in speed, it is the ability to concentrate and the desire to

concentrate like a 24-year-old. Ken Leek performance is tough to

maintain with age. -- at least. That is if you ever had it! This

year, I've seen him look a little deflated and not be able to come

back in big matches. I think the crowd here keeps him up. I've

noticed it, very marginal stuff. will be such a small percentage

when you are playing Djokovic, Nadal or Murray. He needs to be at

100% of his game. The schedule plays a big part in that. He really

get that right. Here they come. Led by Del Potro. You will not see much

of Federer because Del Potro is big and tall! This is a must-win match

for Del Potro it if he is going to make this tournament continue. He

says it will give it everything because this could be his last

match of the year. He has done it before. He have to love the

staging! I absolutely love it. A million people watching Tennis in

November in the UK, brilliant. At and enjoying it. There will be a

massive cheer for Del Potro, but The holder of 17 Grand Slam titles,

for six times to ATP World Tour Well done! You've walked the great

man on court! Took him to the right cheer. What a great memory. Looking

around this arena, it was like a cascade of flashbulbs. Everybody

wanted to take a picture of this man. This kid needs a hat that fits

better than that! There's an excitement when Federer plays.

Quite simply, nobody has ever played quite like him. He is

fabulous to watch. A good luck, Roger! When you get enervation like

that, it has to make you feel 10 years younger. -- an ovation.

chatting to somebody the other day who said they bought two tickets

for four sessions because they wanted to make sure they saw Roger.

You can't get tickets for Wimbledon, it is so difficult. This is a

We have linesmen on all lines today. A machine for the net. 25 seconds

between points. If you want to challenge, please do it in a timely

manner. Finally, we have television changeovers say please sit down.

Heads or tails? Heads. In his heads. I hope they are not just taking

head and shoulders in that photo! A be it embarrassing defender record

for a box to be brought out! for a box to be brought out!

Interesting how many people have chosen to receive this week. It

tells you something about the pace of the court. We always talk about

what an advantage it is to be serving first and getting ahead,

I'm surprised so many people have received this week. Del Potro was

saying that he has to hope Federer has an off-day with his serve. We

saw in his last match, 39 unforced errors, that is not like Federer.

39 unforced errors, but he was serving at about 40% first serves

in the first set. He definitely picked up his first serve in the

tie-break. It is unlike Federer. This is where he does have a good

opportunity to improve his game. He will want to make sure he is in

tip-top condition going into the semi-final. It is an advantage for

him to be playing first today. There's more recovery time, he

doesn't want to be playing at night. Because he is in Group B, and

because age plays a factor in this, especially with fitness, does he

really want to be playing three days in a row to win this? Saturday,

Sunday and Monday. Three days in a row is quite demanding. It be his.

I expect he was coping that David Ferrer would be in the other group

because he was in the final in Paris on Sunday. They had to give

him an extra day to get over here to get ready. He he has potentially

a tough schedule over the next three days, but you have to take

into account what great shape he is in. This is the final push for him.

Not a bad amount of career prize money! Set and two 5 million. -- 75

million. That income will last forever because he has signed

lifetime's sponsorship deals. Je Federer! Cheering be if they

haven't already given him one huge invention they wanted to give him

another. He won the fans' favourite award

for 10 years. Just incredible. Not just British crowds. He is so

popular all around the world. He now wants to go to South America

and see his fans over there. plays very pretty tennis. It is as

simple as that. You look at some of the stuff he does, and you have to

giggle. I sit at home watching this guy and think, you what? How do you

do that? He makes it look so easy. As a thing of beauty, there it is.

I love his game. He was your pigeon. That's was when he was under 14.

beat me when he was older. When you talk about his game and how he easy

he makes it look, there's a technical aspect, he is so sound.

When you look at the longevity and whether he can keep playing, that

definitely helps. It doesn't put so much strain on his joints. His

technique on his serve doesn't stress his shoulder or elbow or

back. The way he moves, it is not like Nadal, putting enormous stress

to his knees. Those are all reasons why he could, if he desires, keep

playing for a long time. This guy is on the way back, he has had a

terrific years. He was the ATP Tour's comeback player last year.

No. 258 to 11 in one year and he took his country to the Davis Cup

final where he played against Spain in a losing effort. I'm so glad the

game didn't lose them. The effort to come back from the defeat

against Federer in the Olympic semi-final, four-and-a-half hours,

to come back and beat Djokovic two days later for a bronze medal was

unbelievable. You are looking at a player of real substance and style.

I talked about his height and his wingspan. That is a huge weapon.

it is. Sometimes when you are that all, 6 ft 6, movement can be a

problem. That is an area, as he has matured, his balance has improved.

It makes them harder to get on the defensive. That is something you

have to do against Federer, you have to defend because you can't

always be the one who is offences. Federer will be looking to dictate

things. I think it will boil down to getting the first strikes in the

to getting the first strikes in the rallies. Del Potro has said he

feels he has to come out and be more aggressive, as he was two

weeks ago. He feels he has to take the attack to Federer and not let

him dominate. In exactly. It is not straightforward. It really gives

you that clarity of thought when you play Federer. You know you

can't just hope he will make mistakes and beat himself. You have

to say OK, this is my game plan, this is how I want to play and you

go for it. Very few players go on the court feeling like they have

something to lose against Federer. I think Del Potro will be looking

to be aggressive from the start. After his performance a couple of

weeks ago in Switzerland, he will fancy his chances. In can't be easy

for Roger, knowing he has qualified. Nothing much to play for.

that's right. You get $130,000 for each win in the group, but I'm not

sure there will be a motivating factor when you have won 75

million! In the context of this tournament, being in the semi-

finals, today's performance is important. If he is a bit flat and

concentration isn't so good and he makes it a few unforced errors and

ends up losing, I don't think that is beneficial for him. For are

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ready to go so over to you, Andy. - Interesting variation. 93mph kick

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serve and wide to a stretch. Very Yes, that variation on the kick

serve at Warwick is something a return has to take into account. --

kick serve. And it is a great variation because when you are

playing someone with such a long reach, to go wide of them is not so

easy with pace. The two most effective serves are the ones into

the body and that slow kicker to A league 24 years old, Juan Martin

Del Potro. He seems to have been around a lot. He took 18 months off

The backhand down the line is one of the shots to look out with

Federer. If he can hit it aggressively it does open up the

two hander for Popp drugs. -- for UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging

the lot of. These will be interesting. From that angle, it

had the effect of keeping the ball in the air a little longer and

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UMPIRE: Federer has two challenges So no blocked happens to players --

so what happens to players and coaches when a player is injured?

Good question. Managers and people around. Self employed. Players not

playing. Players not getting paid. It is one of the hazards,

This is such a different match to the matches that Federer has

already been through against Ferrer UMPIRE: At Mr Del Potro challenging

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the balls. The ball was called act. UMPIRE: Del Potro has two

Such an effective it's there and important that you really hits a

serve slow Lisa Age UK and get the lot to land close to the net, a big

court. He really took Del Potro it Suddenly a tactic that ball and the

Conor will have spoken to Del Potro about before the match. -- Accies

coach will have spoken to Del Potro UMPIRE: Game, Federer. Federer

We keep it in a way to these shots of worries people in the camps of

each and every player. A certain amount our hotel rooms would have

been required. It is quite a mission, and quite an adventure,

getting everyone ran the well. Do the twins come with him? Quite a

circus. Roger has struggled with his family, obviously his wife and

children and nannies, he has a coach, a trainer, and agent, mother,

father, Robbie and Lynette have arrived this week. So there is a

group of them here. He enjoys that. He loves having his family around

him. That is a series hotel bill at the end of it all! You are looking

to take a floor rather than my room. Yes, I think the way the tax works

in this country you can spend what he wants and it is all going to be

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Talk about with getting Del Potro of the court, but also keeping the

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ball low when you are 6ft 6. It is It is a great event, this. All the

way back to 19 Sunday. -- 1970. Very happy to see this event in

London and you hear it is going to stay for another two years. The

cities, Houston, Shanghai and London as well. And Lleyton Hewitt,

2002, a winner in Shanghai and Sydney himself, beating Agassi in

straight sets. When was your year, 1998? In 1998, I lost in the

semifinals, qualifies it in Shanghai in 2003, but I had to pull

out with a dodgy shoulder. 2003 or 2002? 2002, I think. Then I

qualified in 2004 in Houston. But unfortunately, Houston was no O2.

Why was it there? They had a promoter that was very keen to

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promote his club in Houston. He So Federer not able to make the

impact but he would have liked to in the opening games. He is not

able to make the impact against Del Potro's summer but we highlighted

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against Ferrer, that he's serving So many players sloth a lot faster

He looks a bit grumpy today, Roger. He looks like he has not got enough

sleep. I say that because earlier are he was serving a -- an ace and

then it was a let which he had not heard. He looked to the umpire

It is very marginal, all of this, and it is just calling it like you

see it that he is definitely not able to sweep through Del Potro

Whoever goes through from this group, presumably Federer, if he

wins the set and goes just as champion, is going to have to break

this match on the Saturday, Sunday, Murray, a semifinal, and then on

Monday the final. Potentially, if he was to go through Marie. So it

is quite demanding for those going through this group? Yes, it is.

Given the nature of these event it is a gates the best players are the

world so it is not going to be back straight fault although it is only

three sets. Given the context of this event, where it is in the

calendar, they have done so many miles travelling around the world,

so many miles on the court. They can achieve all hang out and give

it their best shot and just go for it. In a week, at the O2 in Prague,

the Davis Cup final will be taking place. The Czech Republic hosed

Spain, without Nadal, but still formidable. -- they host Spain. And

that will be it. But there is always a lot of exhibition matches

taking place around the world at the same time, which run up lies in

the face of all the players who say they play too much, because they

are very happy to go and play exhibition matches. You have to

Fed replying six dates in South America at the end of this year.

UMPIRE: Mr Federer challenging the Such good technology. It takes ten

I just cannot understand why it is not used in football. Look what you

can do. It is easy to incorporate The reality is, in this sport, it

is very difficult calling the lines when the ball is travelling at

140mph. They go to the computer check it out. A match is never

I do not think it is also just about using the technology as an

addition. The players love it. Imagine in football, will line

technology, all be his is a been a cross a line. How easy is that? --

all eat he's his beamed across the He just took his time with this one,

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let it brands. And then it smashed You do not often see Ferrero

opposition my back in pain relief. -- Federer. Caught out by the depth

You can see by Del Potro's reaction there he has done well to say the

two break points, get himself back to deuce and then a very weak

forehand, unforced error on a Another mistake and it will

contribute to this since from Federer that things are not flying

Well saved by Del Potro. He has saved three break points in this

game. And certainly from the back of the court, he looked every bit a

UMPIRE: Mr Del Potro challenges. Big a lot towards called in. So it

is Amber overrule. The ball was called in and it was apt. -- it was

not in. Severe it's these UMPIRE: Game, to Del Potro.

Even though we have technology in tennis, EU are in the umpire's

chair you are still there to be Well handled from Del Potro. I've

UMPIRE: Mr Del Potro is challenging the call, the ball was called out.

This time the umpire was reluctant to get involved! A UMPIRE: The call

This was a clever shot because I think he tried to play the lob. He

Neilly court Federer -- he Neil They arrive only two people I've

ever seen who have made a winning shot with that between the legs

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shot. One of them was Rafael Nadal Del Potro is able to soak up the

pressure, giving himself more space behind the baseline. He was able to

step up on to the baseline and take away Federer's time. Long rallies

The that his bread and butter 4 Del Potro. Rallying backhand, rolled it

into the net. He will not be happy It was a good job for Federer that

he wasn't just standing and admiring his forehand. He opened up

the court by going down the line. He is a tough man to play, Del

Potro. He is still improving, he is 24. Two years of his career were

wiped out with that wrist injury. Tsonga, Berdych, I would say that

Del Potro has the tools to get in amongst that great for ball of

Federer, Djokovic, Nadal and Murray. Would you agree? ISA to any do.

I certainly do. We have seen an array of shots today. Del Potro a

playing the in between the legs lob. I think he would like that forehand

look back. He is making life difficult for Federer. He is able

to soak up the pace in the rallies, he is playing from further back in

the court to give himself more time. When he does get the chance, he is

able to step up and impose himself. That shot to play between the legs,

that is about the normal ground stroke height for everybody else.

The sky is six foot six. -- this guy. An intriguing first set. No

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We always have the radar gun for the speed of that first serve.

wouldn't my and a radar gun for some of the speeds on Del Potro's

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These grunts of effort from Del Potro, he is going to work. 20 shot,

average ground strokes speed 74 mph. You can add an extra 30 onto that

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when Del Potro on loads! -- UN Amazingly similar service stats for

both players. Del Potro at serving at 67% first serve, Federer 68.

They are both winning six out of 10 on their second serves. Del Potro

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is slightly ahead on first serve I'd thought up 5-5, 0-15, Del Potro

So Evans wings of the racket and the game is over. -- 7 it swings. I

remember be introduced to Roger Federer when he was only 14 or 15.

He was in London and he had quite a long ponytail. He was skinny and he

looked around the place, very polite, nice handshake. I kept an

eye on him at over time. When he first won in 2001 in Milan, I

remember looking at the TV and having a giggle. I didn't know why

I was laughing. I had seen some tennis I had not seen before. When

was your first viewing of Roger? He would have been coming up when you

were playing. It was probably were he was 17 or 18. He had won the

junior event at Wimbledon. I was able to see him when he got his

first wildcard into Basel. One of the first years he played, he

played Andy Agassi as a wildcard. He lost, but it was evident that he

had an unbelievable array of shots and amazing talent. I'm not sure I

would have said he would have gone on to win 17 Grand Slams, but you

knew he had enormous potential. There were elements of his

temperament on the court there were not great, he would break a few

rackets. Eventually when it clicked, he has been for best player I've

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Serving to stay in the first set For Del Potro to win this group,

Group B, he needs to be Roger Federer in straight sets. -- Peter

UMPIRE: Tie-break. Both players receive one additional challenge.

The last time they play it was less than a couple of weeks ago in the

final in Basel. Del Potro all winning -- Del Potro winning final

If Federer wins this set, he goes through as champion of this group

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and will play Andy Murray sometime He unforced errors from his group

match against David Ferrer have continued. Nine of them in the set,

There's another forehand unforced error. He looks out of sorts. 10

have now come on the forehand side. It is a worry. Del Potro dominates

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That is a challenge. It was called A lot less majesty about his game,

isn't there? Has been all the way through this match. 50 minutes

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played and Del Potro has been solid That is why one of the set points

saved. -- that is one of for set Not for 10 years has somebody

beaten Federer in back-to-back matches indoors, such is the man's

indoor dominance. He Marc Rosset did it, Lleyton Hewitt did it in

2002. That is what Del Potro is Federer is having a big look at the

Did it catch Tabak edge? No. -- did it catch the back edge? Talk about

A kick serve from Del Potro and a look to his camp that tells you he

is one set to the good and feeling absolutely fabulous. He absolutely

deserved that set. This is a turn SUE BARKER: When we saw Federer

SUE BARKER: When we saw Federer play David Ferrer, he was able to

lift himself after several errors. He played his best tennis to win,

but some Arab -- uncharacteristic errors from Federer today. What

does this mean for the group? If Del Potro defeats Federer in two

sets and this evening if David Ferrer defeated Tipsarevic in team

sets, Del Potro will win the group and Federer finished his second. If

Del Potro wins in three sets and Ferrer wins, Federer will win the

group and Del Potro will qualifies second. A lot will depend on what

happens tonight. Tipsarevic has seemed out of sorts. He came here

with a virus, he was forced to pull out of Paris last week. His opening

two matches have lasted barely an hour. We are presuming that the No.

4 seed, David Ferrer, will win. We will not confuse you with too many

permutations, but at the moment, it is advantage Del Potro and if he

wins this match, he is into the COMMENTATOR: It is complicated. If

you assumed that Del Potro would win this in two sets... I think

Federer, to be champion of this group, needs to win a set. Most

likely. I agree. Is there any possibility that he has looked at

this draw and thought, I would rather play the champion of the

other group rather than the runner up? I don't think so. Particularly

the circumstances of the other group with Djokovic and Murray

coming through. It is not an easy option. Do you think he wants to

avoid Murray? Definitely not. But he will have to find something. Del

Potro did a very good job of soaking up -- soaking up Federer's

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A great start for Federer in the Del Potro did such a good job at

the end of the first set, but Federer obviously wants to get off

to a good start in the second set. Seven straight points. K that is a

There's only one scenario where if Federer wins this set, he's not

champion. This is the ATP's information. That is if Del Potro

wins this match and Tipsarevic wins tonight against David Ferrer,

seemingly unlikely in current form, because then it would go on head-

to-head between these two and Del Potro who won the match between

And my thanks to Sue Barker, who has made things clear and

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12 straight matches Roger Federer has won at the O2. The last time he

lost was in the 2009 Steffi finals to Davydenko. He once had a 14

straight match win through 2003 and 2004 before leaving -- losing in

the final in 2005. Sir Ian McKellen and Richard Wilson as well. That is

People enjoying it. Peter Gabriel And Father Christmas has come early

as well. In the form of the Swiss And you will note from all these

sorts of pictures that it is going out on the big video screens as

well. Oh, no! Look at that bloke having a little nap to the left of

fat lady. I loved the camera! -- to the left of the bat lady. -- that

lady. In the United States they do a police camera and when they

picture a pair, the people who are being films have to kiss. They had

President Obama and his wife, Michelle. I hope they do not point

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The people are coming in over I have seen him look like he is

having more fun before, don't you agree? There is an element of

frustration there but all things being relative, I have seen more

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And from both ends of the court there was a daft of admiration for

that because it was well over and had masses of top spin and side

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spin as well. Look at this curling No question, Del Potro is a better

player at this time and he was at the start of this year, and he has

had a very strong year. Quarterfinal of the Australian Open,

he won in Marseilles. He a won another tournament without dropping

of course the semifinal of the Olympics and then he won the bronze

by beating Novak Djokovic. There were only four Argentine medals in

London 2012 and he got one of them and he wept after that. It was a

tremendous response, after losing 2 Federer. He had been there four-

and-a-half hours. A classic semifinal. What does he need to

prove to be one of the four, if you It is a good question. He is

hitting a mean ball. His service is pretty good. He is aggressive from

the baseline. Movement, perhaps. That is still an area that is

certainly not easy for him, being 6ft six. Of the big men, I cannot

think that anyone moves better than him. You are moving up another

level 2649, 6ft 10. The Polish boy that make the final in Paris. He

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The average height of the top four He broke Del Potro's first service

game and has been signed on his own serve. He has had three service

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We finally got the chairman of Wimbledon's Handicap right this

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You would not want to misjudge of That is a nice piece of racket work,

Tim. Is this part of the exhibition? How would you describe

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Just to update you on women's tennis this year, with Laura Robson

and Heather Watson doing so well, the Czech Republic defeated Serbia

last week in Prague. To the to that and Safra that have a won the Cup

final coming up next week. The Czech Republic are hosting Spain

and this is the last singles event for the co. It is always the

This atmosphere is a strange one in here today. Perhaps it will get

going a bit if there is a final set. Roger Federer does not look like

relinquishing his set at the moment. I think they are both checking out

the replay of that last point on the big screen. They have some

forehand and backhand winner statistics up there at the moment.

Federer was hitting more forehand winners and backhand winners. Do

players ever look at statistics during a match? Are you allowed to?

Would it help? TIM HENMAN: Players are aware they

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are not getting a lot of serves in Federer did not serve badly in the

first set it in the second set, he only lost three bat -- he only lost

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three points on serve. So the A nonchalant swiped from the racket

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of Roger Federer, and Del Potro The man that Del Potro's facing

today has spent 302 weeks out world number one. That is a new record.

Pete Sampras was on 286 weeks. This is none consecutive weeks. And

after winning Wimbledon over Andy Murray, Federer was number one for

a total of 17 weeks, and that is a new record for him. The world

number one at the end of this will be Novak Djokovic no matter what

happens, with an improvement for year end ranking for Andy Murray,

up to number three. And for this year it is a fabulous effort.

Looking forward to Andy Murray some time tomorrow. He's the runner-up

in the other great, with Djokovic the champion. We do not yet know

the semifinal line-up because this is Group B and it is being

concluded today. Later on this evening, Five Live Sports Extra 4

Ferrer versus Tipsarevic. When you were playing in a tournament, did

you watch the other players playing matches, if you're resting at the

Hotel? Yes, sometimes. If there in your section of the draw you are

likely to see how they were playing. And then you are always watching

the match before you if you are getting ready to play. Unless you

get the first Match Of The Day, you do not know what time you're going

to start and in the Grand Slams, best of five-set matches, if you're

following a men's match and it is 2-0 and you stop preparing,

stretching and suddenly there is a bit of a comeback, you have to be

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UMPIRE: Mr Del Potro challenging It is amazing to see where Del

Potro hits his forehand from. Way It is always a good tactic to heed

behind the big man. Not easy for Del Potro to change direction. -- 2

He set up the point perfectly well there, Federer. He just could not

find the court with the approach on the forehand and instead of being

Federer really going with a slow one out wide of the deuce box. All

the time I think that Del Potro could look to stand over there a

So we are going the distance here! SUE BARKER: thank you. Let's go

through these groups again. Just to emphasise, coming into this, if you

just look at the bottom, Federer the end of the day. Regardless of

the score, if Federer defeats Del Potro and then Ferrer, as we expect,

wins tonight, then Federer and Ferrer will go through. The ways

that Del Potro can go through, if he defeats Federer in this the

third set and Ferrer beats Tipsarevic, then Del Potro will go

through second in this group, which means regardless of whether it is,

of the score of this third set, Federer will play Andy Murray to

married his Darren its Tipsarevic tonight in straight sets. One other

scenario, if Del Potro defeats of Federer and if Tipsarevic beats

Ferrer, then Del Potro will go through as the group winner. So

there are still four more permutations to look out but at the

moment, it is certainly Federer knows he is in the semifinals, he

just has not know who you will be playing tomorrow. Andrew, can you

just repeat that? I could not quite No wonder the players cannot afford

to think about all the different things. Payout has put -- they are

just trying to play tennis. Momentum is important going into

the semifinals. Federer wants to remain undefeated. And looking at

the finer details of this match, in the first set, Federer was only

winning about half the points on his second serve and then in the

second set he was winning eight out of ten. He was more dominant. He

got the break of serve in the first game of the second set and he will

be keen to get the break-up serve UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging

the call. Of the ball was called No. The call is overturned. Play a

let. They always look so forlorn when they've got the call wrong.

They don't get any credit for their Trying to call a Federer forehand,

it's impossible. When you've got size 14 boots around the ball as

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Fees lovely slow-motion shots, players spinning their rackets, can

you buy these particular rackets in a sports shops or online of a

specially made? You will get something very similar. But the

players will have their own personal preference for the weight

of the racket, the grip, size and shape, the balance point of the

racket, halve the weight is distributed. -- How of the weight.

They will have somebody who replicates that for each of their

The first point of the previous game was an overrule on a return.

Now the same man fans himself under UMPIRE: The call is overturned.

Good call! Cut back to him and have a look at him now. Completely right,

Was he saying that was a let? Or a There are not many players who can

rush Federer on his forehand like that. Del Potro from a couple of

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feet behind the baseline is able to It looked a straightforward pass,

but he had to keep his eye on the ball, pick his target and go for it.

I thought for a drop shot might be coming, but Federer elected to go

to the Del Potro backhand and that was some very precise footwork.

It is another mishit, this time of the backhand side. Del Potro it

surges into the lead. It is a mirror image of the second set and

on top of that, he has got new balls to serve with. Federer, from

30-0 up in that game, losing his serve. That was Del Potro's first

break point of the match. Federer able to get off to a quick start in

the second set. Del Potro has got He hasn't looked particularly

animated today. No great urgency to his play at times. Del Potro has

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done a great job of keeping him out Coming as it does after the break,

3-0, this looks a very commanding 3-0. It certainly does after 14

points of this third set. Del Potro winning 12 of them. He really has

stamped his authority and Federer will have to regroup and make sure

he holds on to his next service game or Del Potro will run away

with this. Have you notice this year when Federer has got behind a

couple of times this year, he has struggled to dig deep and come

back? We were both at the Olympic final at Wimbledon. Murray played

so well. He did play so well. I don't think there was much Federer

could do that day. When you reflect on his semi-final performance,

winning 19-17 in the third set against Del Potro, he sometimes

falls into the Pete Sampras mould, just because he isn't shouting and

screaming and showing a great deal of the motion doesn't mean he isn't

trying as hard as any other player. You don't achieve what he has

achieved without an amazing desire and hunger and competitive spirit.

When he has got behind this year, there's been a couple of times

where I thought, it just doesn't look like he is having much fun.

Just how much he has in the tank, the competitive spirit he needs to

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Federer definitely got away with one there. Del Potro up in plenty

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of time for this backhand, but just Co UMPIRE: Mr Del Potro is

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challenging the call. UMPIRE: Mr Federer is challenging

The corn is overturned, play a let. Having problems with that line

One wonders if Federer, who we've seen over the years respond to a

crisis... The blood is not flowing through the veins for Federer. He

has to wait until there's a crisis to bring on that excitement. Del

Potro is doing a very good job of not allowing his opponent to play

well. It's an extraordinary set just statistics that Del Potro is

putting together. A lot of first serves in and not losing a point on

serve. He hasn't lost a point on serve this set. He has had three

service games. You have to give him a great deal of credit as he tries

to make the semi-finals once again. Argentina are pretty strong at the

moment. They've had great players in the past, of course. At the

moment they've got Juan Monaco, who until a couple of weeks ago it was

a contender for this eight-man field. They have David Nalbandian

still. Top 100 players. But this one is head and shoulders ahead of

A pretty good club structure over there as well. The Davis Cup team

have a proud record as well. What do you say to Federer in a

situation like this? He knows he has qualified from the group.

still don't think he will be thinking about that. He knows the

situation of this match, he has to concentrate on his next service

game. He has to give himself two more opportunities to break the Del

Potro serve. When Del Potro is playing like this, he is a match

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7th in the world now. His highest He had all those US Open points

from his victory in 2009. He beat Quite a rare sight to see Federer

grumbling, isn't it? Or I wonder It sounded a bit German. Swiss-

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It has taken 23 minutes of this deciding set for Federer to win a

point it against the Del Potro serve. When someone is serving so

well like this, you have to break that up, maybe stand in a different

position, a long way back, just to get the server thinking about

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Well held, Del Potro. From 0-15 down. Solid as a rock. Went behind

it Federer with the forehand, a backhand slice error into the net,

Federer can't get going and time is running out. It certainly is. He

has to come out and hold serve just to keep himself in this match and

give himself one more opportunity of trying to break the serve of Del

Potro. When you look at this Argentine serving like this, 76%

first serves in in this set, 13 straight points when the first

serve has gone in and he has won three out of four on the second

serve. So consistent this year, Del Potro. He has been in nine semi-

finals already and he is trying to get to his 10th in London. He has

played Davis Cup for his country as well. He won a bronze medal at the

Olympic Games. And a winner in Marseilles, Estoril, Vienna and

Basel. A Vienna and Basel came after the US Open, both indoor

tournaments. He is putting together We will see what happens in this

match a little bit later as to what position Federer will be, first or

Del Potro, seemingly, marching to the winning line. First job for

Federer before he tries to break is First double in the match. For

What Del Potro does well is when he is soaking up for Federer forehands,

he retreats a little bit and gives himself extra space behind the

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baseline, but that leaves him open Predictably, he holds serve. Less

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predictably, fizz next game coming Two hours of play. Del Potro on the

That is a big win for Del Potro. 6- 3 in the final set, just one break

of serve. When you take for the scalp of Roger Federer twice in a

row on an indoor court, you are a man. A tremendous effort from him.

He beat him in the final a Basel in front of his home fans. Now he

beats him in London. The first defeat for Roger Federer since 2009

at this event, that stretches back Certainly not a performance that

Federer will it -- look back on with any great joy. But it has been

a great season for Juan Martin Del Potro. He has qualified for the

start of the first set, Federer's concentration did not seem to be

there. Del Potro's game certainly was. 51 break point taken, just the

one chance he needed and the Argentine player was straight

through. So Federer's sudden loss in London after Murray defeated him

in the final of the Olympic games. But he will be back for the weekend

and he will certainly played with Congratulations on beating Rojer

but also on qualifying for the semifinals. -- one beating Roger.

Terrific effort. Thank you. I think they remember you. Of course I

remember you also. I am so happy to beat Roger once again. I know he is

the favourites for you but I would like to say thank you. I will see

all of you tomorrow. It is going to be a tough match against Djokovic

or Marray. -- or Murray. Thank you very much for coming to watch.

is becoming a bit of a regular occurrence, you beating Roger. You

beat him in Basel just a couple of weeks ago. What was the key today?

I think I got a little lucky in the end of the match. When you play

these kind of players you need luck on your side but I played well, I

took the break point chance in the first set and then I served really

well in the last game. I was so nervous also. We look forward to

seeing you on Sunday. SUE BARKER: The question we asked

at the top of the show has now been filled. Juan Martin Del Potro goes

through to the semifinals, along with Roger Federer, the top two in

this group but depending on the result tonight, if Ferrer beats

Tipsarevic van boccia wins the group, and if Tipsarevic wins

tonight then Del Potro will top the group. Andy Murray will play the

winner of this group and the likelihood is that Ferrer will win

tonight, therefore it would be Murray against Federer. But there

is no such thing as a sure thing in the four players, we just do not

know the orders. That is live on Del Potro, I just wondered whether

he would be able to keep his foot on the gas, and he did. He did a

fantastic job. You look at the statistics at the end of the match.

Del Potro had one break point in the whole match, in the first set,

and he did it. He any dropped two points in the whole set. Federer is

normally so good at getting the balance of back and getting himself

into the rallies. Federer did not pay -- play badly. 42 unforced

errors though. That is a lot for a man of his class and when a man is

playing as well as Del Potro was, that is going to put a person up

against it. Federer just lacked a bit of spark. I would not normally

disagree with two but I think Federative Blair added. His

concentration. He was 30-0 up on the game and he got broken. Del

Potro can take the match up around -- can take the match away from

anyone. That is a bit of an insult to Federer. I am not saying it was

Federer's match that he lost. Del Potro won the match, definitely.

These group matches are a different mindset. Yes, and Ferrer is likely

to beat Tipsarevic tonight, which means Federer is likely to win the

group anyway. I do not know what goes on between players but there

was not much electricity running through Roger. It showed in the

tie-break. You expecting to beat his match up when it gets to the

crucial point of any set, but he was just an -- overpowered.

look at that unforced errors statistic and he does not make many

unforced errors at the best of times but he cannot afford to you

that. Del Potro was very impressive. You talk about the predicament for

Roger mentally with this match. He knew he was through to the

semifinals, but it is a huge challenge for Del Potro. He knows

he has to win this match to get through to the semifinals and you

see him talking in the interview afterwards, he was so nervous for

that last game, but when you are serving that well, it makes life

easy. We talked about how Federer did not play well in the first set.

He really got off to a flier in the second, and produced some fantastic

shots, including this one. That forehand that he managed to swing

into the court. That was going out until the moment that it landed. It

had great clearance over the net. But then of course he got nabbed in

The pressure coming from Del Potro is strong and he was the world

number four. He has done this before. He won the US Open three

years ago. I think we are seeing his emergence back to the very top

level after the wrist injury. you have so long off the tour, it

does take you a while to get back, physically and mentally. Absolutely.

With an injury like that as well, it is not a good injury. Admittedly

to his left wrist, but you have to regain the strength and confidence.

He has built on that and it is interesting to see when they are in

those baseline rallies, Del Potro in such a good job of soaking up

Federer's power, because a lot of the time Federer can open you up

and exploit a hole at the back of the court, but Del Potro dropped

off the baseline a little bit to give himself more time and he had

the chance to really step in, and he generates so much power because

he hits the ball so flat and does not put too much spin on it.

are sitting in the Murray camp. Who does he want to win tonight? Does

he want to go Federer or Del Potro? It is a funny thing. He has crushed

Federer in this city, this here. Why would he not want to play him

in the semifinal? I think he would fancy it very much. And you look at

the way this has been played out today. You would have to think that

Murray would fancy playing Federer. He has a good head-to-head against

Del Potro, although not since he has come back. Murray was also able

to beat Ferrer in the Shanghai semifinals. It boils down to who is

going to play the best on the day. It will be no different in the

semifinals. All the driers have to step up, produced the goods and

they can do that, they have a good chance. Federer will now walk away

and think, I have not played well in two matches. He hasn't. It was

two hours out there on the court. It was not the sort of contest they

have last time, when they played the 8th semifinal in the Olympics.

It was not four-and-a-half hours. I just think that Federer was

prepared to go to fourth deer rather than Office of the first and

Deputy first Minister. -- fourth Join Gary and the team for Match Of

The Day tonight. That is it from us. Del Potro has come through in three.